The Dunwoody Lady Wildcats bounced back from an opening game 3-1 loss to River Ridge with a 2-0 victory in Game 2 to force a Game 3 in the Class 5A State Softball Playoff first round best of three series at Dunwoody.

Pitcher Robin Tallon and Allie Puckett played key roles in the Game 2 victory for the Lady Wildcats (22-5).

Puckett got the only run Tallon would need in the game as she grounded out to the right side to score Walker Wicklund from third in the top of the first inning for a 1-0 Dunwoody lead.

Tallon got the first out in the bottom of the first, but a walk (one of only two for Tallon) and a single put runners at first and second with one out. Tallon got a strikeout and a pop foul to first to get out of the inning with no damage. She would go on to sit down six batters in a row.

River Ridge (21-11) would get runners in scoring position in the third and fifth innings against Tallon who responded with some nice pitching to work out of any problems and hold the 1-0 lead.

Puckett would provide an insurance run in the top of the sixth as she stroked a one-out double into left-center field to get in scoring position. She moved to third on a ground out by Savannah Hurley and then scored on a wild pitch with two-out in the inning for the 2-0 lead.

Tallon gave up her second walk of the game with one out in the sixth, but got a groundout and her third strikeout of the game to end the inning still ahead 2-0.

Dunwoody went down in order in the top of the seventh and needed three outs to extend the series. Tallon set the Knights down in order on a pop up and two groundouts to seal the victory.

The two teams meet in the deciding game of the series at 4:30 pm at Dunwoody on Thursday (Oct. 15).

DEKALB CO. STATE SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS
Wednesday, Oct. 14
CLASS 6A at East Coweta
East Coweta (30-2) 8, Lakeside (7-11) 0
East Coweta (30-2) 15, Lakeside (7-11) 1
East Coweta Win Best of Three Series 2-0

CLASS 5A
At Dunwoody
River Ridge (21-10) 3, Dunwoody (22-5) 1
Dunwoody (23-5) 2, River Ridge (21-11) 0
Best of three series tied 1-1

At Stephenson
Creekview (20-12) 15, Stephenson (15-7) 2
Creekview (20-12) 3, Stephenson (15-7) 0
Creekview wins best of three series 2-0

At Dalton
Dalton (21-10) 13, Druid Hills (12-16) 0
Dalton (21-10) 11, Druid Hills (12-16) 1
Dalton wins best of three series 2-0

At Cambridge
Cambridge (20-2) 13, SW DeKalb (13-10) 0
Cambridge (20-2) 15, SW DeKalb (13-10) 0
Cambridge wins best of three series 2-0

CLASS 4A
At Arabia Mountain
Gilmer (26-7) 13, Arabia Mountain (15-10) 0
Gilmer (26-7) 9, Arabia Mountain (15-10) 1
Gilmer wins best of three series 2-0

At Heritage-Catoosa
Heritage-Catoosa (28-4) 13, Chamblee (12-9) 0
Heritage-Catoosa (29-4) 21, Chamblee (12-10) 1
Heritage wins best of three series 2-0

CLASS 3A
At Pierce County
Pierce County (26-3) 17, Cedar Grove (8-15) 0
Pierce County (26-3) 13, Cedar Grove (8-15) 1
Pierce County wins best of three series 2-0

Thursday, Oct. 15
CLASS 5A
River Ridge (20-10) at Dunwoody (22-4), Single game, if necessary, at 4:30 p.m.

Admission Cost: Adults $5, Students $5 — Thursday Single Game If Necessary